Or it can be a hellscape of heat and bugs.

This year's after-work Mt. Defiance trip was the latter. It was hot. Real hot. In fact, it was the beginning of heat that would define most of the summer. Boo. I'm much more a winter person. Nonetheless, Treen and I sweated our way up the trail to Mason Lake. I had already drained my 2L reservoir so I stopped to refill. Happily, there was no delay in filtering since I was testing an inline filter from Source. (You can read my review here.)

Back on the trail the bugs were getting fierce. Treen doesn't seem to care much (or her hair keeps enough of them off her), but I'm not so lucky. I thought we'd be able to outrun them, but they feasted on my triceps and buzzed around my head. Not my favorite.

Almost to the ridge I met a group that were on their way down. They had head-nets on and said it was even worse higher. I looked at Treen to consult her, but she was rolling in snow. I figured that's all she really wanted out of the trip so we turned back.

Since we had extra time available we took an alternate route down and got a great view of the sunset that would have been blocked by trees had we pushed on. We also got to walk through the huge fields of blooming beargrass. And Mount Rainier was out, too.

No summit is a bummer, but being eaten is worse. Call me a wise man or a coward. Or maybe both. Either way, it was a fine night to be out.